Supervisors Punt on ‘Red Flag’ Gun Law Support

Loudoun supervisors have voted to put off taking a position
on a proposed state law that would allow law enforcement to temporarily
confiscate firearms from people deemed an immediate threat to themselves or

others.

County Chairwoman Phyllis J.
Randall (D-At Large) asked supervisors to support a proposal that would allow
law enforcement to apply to a judge for an Emergency Severe Threat Order of
Protection, based on a bill proposed by Virginia Beach Del. Jason Miyares (R-82).
So called red-flag laws would allow law enforcement to remove firearms from a
person if the court finds there is “probable cause to believe that a person is
experiencing a behavioral health issue and poses a significant danger of
imminently causing death or serious physical injury to himself or others and is
likely to suffer death or serious physical injury or cause death or serious
physical injury to another person unless immediate action is taken.”

In that case, the person would be
required to give their firearms to a custodian of their choice for up to 14
days. The act as written instructs judges to consider factors like evidence of
recent credible threats of violence, a pattern of violent behavior, known
dangerous mental health issues, previous emergency severe threat protection
orders and convictions for violent crimes.

However, that proposal is not the
only one under consideration at the state General Assembly, and according to
county staff members, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Mental
Health, Substance Abuse, and Developmental Services have open questions about the
processes laid out in the bill.

Randall told a story of one of her
uncles after a breakup.

“I guess that that moment that she broke
up [with him] he felt hopeless,” Randall said. “He walked into my grandparents’
house while dinner was being served, picked up his legal gun, and left his brains
on the back wall,” Randall said.

Some Republicans indicated they’re
open to the conversation, but said they need more information before voting.

“I would always point out that especially
this year, with it being an election year, and we have members of the General
Assembly up for an election, anyone who wants them to do something has an
opportunity to go directly to them and ask them to do that,” said Supervisor
Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles). He pointed out 17 other states have passed
similar red flag bills, and asked for more information about those.

Supervisors voted along party lines,
6-3, to defer taking a position on red flag laws in Virginia, with Republicans
opposed.

A number of Loudouners had come to
the meeting to voice their opinions—mostly in favor of a red flag law, but some
opposed.

Matthew O’Donnell recalled his own
history of alcoholism.

“I’ve been sober for over 30 years,
and I remember that 16-year-old boy, and I guarantee nobody in this room wanted
that 16-year-old boy to have that gun,” O’Donnell said. “…If, god forbid, I
ever lose my mind and start drinking again, sober me votes right now for drunk
me to never have a gun.”

Gail Paen said it’s a proposal that
will saves the lives of police, emergency medical personnel and family members.
Others pointed to the familiar statistics around gun violence, such as that by
many estimates around 100 people a day are killed by a gun in the U.S.

Some Loudouners were wary of the state
proposal.

“We don’t want millions of law-abiding
gun owners to lose their rights because of public fear over guns,” said Elizabeth
Comerford. “… Please tread carefully in making these laws.”

The state General Assembly held a
special session in July to address gun violence after another mass shooting,
this time at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center, killed 12 people. The session
adjourned in 90 minutes, after Republican lawmakers blocked any votes on any
proposals.

The special session will resume
Nov. 18, just after this year’s local and state elections, and red flag law
proposals are still under consideration at the House of Delegates Committee on
Militia, Police and Public Safety.

5 thoughts on “Supervisors Punt on ‘Red Flag’ Gun Law Support”

Due Process Chair Randall, Due Process. You should study up on this most basic of civil rights in the US, and Virginia Constitutions.

Meanwhile, what did you do this week to address traffic concerns for Loudoun homeowners? What tax dollar savings and streamlining did you identify in county government so Loudoun homeowners get more bang for their tax money?

Well now we have it Bob O would be a better Chair then Randall. We need a proposal that would allow law enforcement to apply to a judge for an Emergency Severe Threat Order of Protection from Randall and do nothing Board of Supervisors

The more-guns-everywhere chorus is in full throat and as usual they jump right to “whataboutism” and a haywagon full of straw man arguments. If you are arguing that it’s OK for a dangerous person to have an indiscriminate weapon of death then you’re, sorry, you’re also part of the problem.

Always with the hysterics Facts. Nobody said whataboutnothing. If you’re all about surrendering my Due Process civil right protections to the governmnet, then you’re a huge problem to your neighbors and all law-abiding citizens.

Tell us Facts, which other of your neighbors civil rights do you support giving up to the irrational “do something mob?”

These supervisors will do absolutely nothing until after election day. They are all so concerned w. elections, they won’t do a thing to jeopardize their re-elections . . . . pathetic. I plan to vote against ALL local incumbent politicians. We need a new crop who will come in to their offices w. no obligations to the $ people – developers et al.